– Pain has emotional and cognitive components in addition to physical sensations. Gating mechanisms located along the CNS regulate or block pain impulses. Impulses pass when a gate is open, blocked when a gate is closed

Dilation of bronchial tubes & increased heart rate

Provides increased oxygen intake

Peripheral vasocinstriction

Elevated blood pressure with shift away from periphery

Increase blood glucose level

Increased energy

Increased cortisol level

Heightened memory functions, a burst of increased immunity

Diaphoresis

Controls body temperature during stress

Decreased gastrointestinal motility

Frees energy for more immediate activity

Pallor

Causes blood supply to shift away from periphery

Nausea/vomiting

Vagus nerve sends impulses to chemoreceptor trigger zone in the brain

Rapid, irregular breathing

Causes body defenses to fail under prolonged stress of pain

Chronic episodic pain

Occurs sporadically over an extended duration of time

Idiopathic pain

Pain that is chronic in the absence of an identifiable physical or psychological cause

common biases and misconceptions

– Health care personnel are the best authorities on the nature of a patient pain
– Psychogenic pain is not real
– Chronic pain is psychological
– Patients who are hospitalized will experience pain
– Administering analgesics regularly leads to drug addiction
– The amount of tissue damage in a ninjury accurately indicates pain intensity
– Patients with minor illnesses have less pain that those with severe physical alteration
– Patients who abuse substances overreact to discomforts

Physiological factors that influence pain

– Age
– Fatigue
– Genes
– Neurologic function

Social factors that influence pain

– Attention
– Previous experience
– Family and social support
– Spiritual factors

Psychological factors that influence pain

– Anxiety
– Coping styles

Cultural background factors affect coping with pain

– Individuals learn what is expected and accepted by their culture. Different meanings and attitudes are associated with pain across various cultural groups